MAHLABA SCRUTINISING COUNTRY’S CONSTITUTION

MBABANE – Prince Mahlaba, an advisor to His Majesty the King, says he is doing research on the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
In an interview, he said he was analysing it very carefully to ensure he understood it.

After his research, which has no time frame, the senior prince said he would inform the public of his findings. Prince Mahlaba, who was recently appointed senator, said he wanted to say something very important but wanted his opinions to be always backed by thorough research, not just hearsay.

He said the public expected senior citizens and royal family members like him to be always spot on when deliberating on issues of national importance. He was interviewed on reports that there were sections of the Constitution which he felt were depriving His Majesty the King of his powers to reappoint ministers who had excelled in their ministerial jobs. 

This is Section 68 (6) which reads: “A minister shall not be in office for more than two consecutive terms.”
“No, I haven’t looked at the section you are referring me to but could you please wait until I am through with my research,” he said.
However, two members of Liqoqo, an advisory council to His Majesty said Prince Mahlaba was unhappy with sections of the Constitution he perceived to be taking away powers of the King.

They said he had expressed his reservations about certain constitutional provisions to the council.
The third member of Liqoqo interviewed was Obed Dlamini, the former prime minister, who had no problem being quoted on his comments.
He said it was possible he was not present when the prince expressed his reservations about the Constitution.

However, the former PM said Prince Mahlaba, initially, did not want the Constitution altogether. “What I know about him is that he didn’t want the Constitution altogether but I am not quite sure if he has changed his attitude to accept it now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prince Mahlaba said he was ‘an old man’ who was expected to tell the truth and not just shoot from the hip.
The senior prince said he was grateful to the Times SUNDAY for quoting him accurately in 2011 when he talked about the E2.4 billion loan which the Swazi Government sought from South Africa.

The loan was sought to cushion government’s coffers during its hardest financial times since independence.
The cash flow problems created dilemmas and uncertainties over whether civil servants would be paid their salaries.
South Africa approved the loan but the money was to be deposited to the Central Bank of Swaziland with strings attached. Conditions of the loan hinged on the need for political transformation and financial administration in the country. The issue of the loan is now off the table.

Prince Mahlaba took exception to the conditions, on the grounds that the loan was not a donation, as it would have been paid back anyway. At the time, he likened the conditions of the loan to an inhumane demand that a needy man should sell his wife for a loan of E100; something which a sane man could not do.   
The prince said he got overwhelming support for his statement.

He said people stopped him along the streets to praise him for a bold and truthful statement.
“I want to say something that the public will appreciate, just like we did last time when we addressed the issue of the loan. Don’t persuade me to say it now because I don’t want to say something that is not factual. Give me enough time to research,” said the prince.
The prince is also a former appointed Member of Parliament (MP).  He is also His Majesty’s noted praise singer and soldier by profession.

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